Sheet metal frame construction



June I, 1954 w. w. KENNEDY,

SHEET METAL FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 10, 1948 w MW M N R W w W m M a f WWM Patented June 1, 1954 OFFICE 2,679,912 SHEET METAL FRAME CONSTRUCTION Walter W. Kennedy, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Barber-Colman Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 10, 1948, Serial No. 43,433

2 Claims.

The invention pertains to frames formed of sheet metal like, possessing ample strength have proven unsatisfactory.

the object of the Wise finish and capable of facture.

The object of the invention thus generally stated together with other and ancillary advaneconomical manucompanying drawmg, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a grille frame embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary underside view of one side of the frame in process of construction.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a corner of the structed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 3, but on a larger scale.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. 3, but on a larger scale.

Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing respectively the top and undersides of a corner plate employed in the construction of the frame.

Fig. 8 is perspective View of an inside corner of the completed frame.

While frame as the same is finally conrectangular form ing 9 for the reception of the shown). In the illustrative embodiment the frame members are made from separate angle bars secured together at the corners of the frame and each comprising stantial depth in a front-to-rear direction and an outer moulding flange H In Fig. 2 I have shown the underside of one corner portion of a grille frame with two adjacent frame members 7 and 8 brought together with I4 are curved toward I5, so as to close the the outer end of the To complete the ner fastening plate construction, I employ a cor- (Figs. 6 and 7) which may be made of relatively thin sheet metal. The plate is shaped to conform to the shape of the adjacent moulding flanges H and has wing portions 11, H3 disposed at right angles to each other and respectively secured (Figs. 3 and 5) to the undersides of the flanges as by spot-welding. Between these two wing portions the corner plate is formed with a diagonal rib I9 projecting outwardly from the wing portions into the slot 13. Preferably the rib i9 is in the form of a channel having an outer depending tip end 20 serving to close the outer end of the channel, and an inner depending end flange 20a engaging in the inner end of the slot l3. Preferably the rib I9 is preformed. in the corner plate before assembly of the latter with the frame members.

As shown, the rib I9 is made of a depth somewhat greater than the thickness of the moulding flange so as to protrude sufficiently to form in effect an embossed bead. Also, the longitudinal corners of the rib as well as the ends thereof are gently rounded to avoid sharp edges. The width of the rib corresponds as closely to that of the slot as commensurate with necessary fabrication tolerances. To facilitate the reception of the rib t9 the edges 01 the slot may be bevelled slightly as shown in Fig. 5.

The projection of the rib beyond the outer face of the frame proper to form an outwardly protruding bead is advantageous for the reason that it increases the prominence of the head to a degree such that any gaps or crevices between the bead and the edges 14 of the slot due to the presence of burrs or roughness. are relatively unnoticeable.

It will be seen that by the construction provided, not only are the frame members 1 and 8 eiiectually secured together by the corner fastening plates but the latter provide material for the formation of diagonal ribs presenting such a pleasing and attractive appearance as to render negligible the formation of small gaps at the sides thereof. Moreover, the cost of construction is low in that the use of carefully machine mitered joints is eliminated.

I claim as my invention:

1. A frame comprising side and end sheet metal members disposed at right angles to each other v4 and presenting front faces of similar convexly curved cross-section, the adjacent ends of said members being spaced apart and cooperating to form a narrow parallel sided slot extending diagonally of the corners of the frame, and a piece of sheet metal having opposite end portions lying against and secured to the undersides or said members and an intermediate portion struck upwardly to form a hollow rib upstanding through and closely filling said slot and curved longitudinally to match the convexity of the faces of said members, said rib comprising laterally spaced parallel side walls at least as deep as the thickness of said members and joined by a connecting bead having outer edge surfaces of arcuate cross section rounded into mergence with the outer surfaces of said walls and disposed above said conv x faces to mask the exposed lines of abutment between said walls and said member ends.

2. A frame comprising side and end sheet metal members disposed at right angles to each other and presenting front faces of similar convexly curved cross-section, the adjacent ends of said members being spaced apart and cooperating to form a narrow parallel sided slot extending diagonally of the corners of the frame, and a piece of sheet metal having opposite end portions lying against and secured to the undersides of said members and a hollow rib upstanding through and completely filling said slot and comprising laterally spaced parallel side walls deeper than the thickness of said members and joined by a connecting bead having rounded outer corner surfaces disposed above said convex faces, said bead being curved longitudinally to match the convexity of the faces of said members and the opposite ends of the bead and Walls being bent downwardly more sharply than the curvature of the frame members to eliminate sharp edges at the ends of the bead and fill the ends or said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

